Welcoming Ceremony

Over the next few days, countless people from immediate family members to distant relatives arrived to greet me. Even the people from the city came to meet me bearing gifts. I came to realize how influential my family is, based on the visitations and well wishes. Many people look favorably on my family because we, as the nobility, are just and kind rulers. We treat the city's people with respect and kindness. In return, we have the city's trust and loyalty.

I was extremely curious about my new world but information is limited to the people around me, so insights came in slowly. However, the servants that come in and out of the room cleaning and taking care of me, gossip quite a bit so I was able to gain a lot of information. They do not pay attention to the newborn baby who should not be able to understand yet anyways.

I have learned that my parents are particularly unique amongst even the nobility. My mother is the only daughter to the Duke and Duchess of Nova Lunes (one of the major continents in Twilight Haze). In comparison, my father is from a baron family, which is the lowest caste of nobility. However, they overcame many obstacles to be who they are today. Well-respected and renown nobles that love the city and its people. The servants, who maintains my family's rooms and needs, says a lot of praise.

Although, sometimes I do hear bad rumors about my family every now and then, but I don't pay attention because Mother and Father are my cherished family. If I come to trust someone, I will wholeheartedly cherish and believe in them until proven guilty. This is especially true for me as a former assassin. There were few that I would trust behind my back.

Another thing the servants bring up a lot is Uncle Vernon Ray. He is not my blood-related uncle, but a close family friend of my Mother. My mother knew this man since she was young, but there are rumors that his personality has changed over the years. The servants describe him as cold. It makes me curious how my Mother thinks of him. If he is a threat, I will kill him.

The door to my room opens as my older brothers come in.

"Hello Freya!" my brothers greet me as they approach my bedside. I stare at them and wriggle my body in response. It's hard being a baby since I have limited control over my body and I will not talk about the other unpleasant necessities a baby must go through. I'm not known to be patient when it comes to gaining knowledge or honing strength. I try stretching out my limbs to speed up the development process. Although I am getting stronger, I tire quickly and sleep just as much.

Mother's personal maid, Il'wara, soon follows with light footsteps. There is something about her that makes me wary. I feel like she is hiding her true strength.

"Hello, young masters. Your mother ordered me to take you two and your sister to the main hallway." Il'wara speaks stoically. Although she seems like a distant person, I can tell she adores Mother, and by extension, the rest of the nuclear family. I hear that she has been working with Mother for a long time and has different privileges than the other workers. Beyond that, I do not know what to make of this mysterious maid.

"Okay," my brothers reply. All of us made our way into the main hallway where Mother and Father was waiting for us. The first few days of my new life, I pay close attention to my surroundings when Mother or Father takes me outside to the garden patio. I came to the conclusion that my home can be accurately be described as grand. It's a mixture of modern and gothic architecture. It kind of reminds me of the White House and the spires design of La Sagrada Familia.

The main hallway is where we greet visitors and where the whole meet-and-greet takes place. Honestly, I hate these types of ceremonies. Who will remember Lady Arabella here or Lord Barwicks there?

"Mother. Father," my brothers greet our parents respectfully. Our parents greet them with a smile. Il'wara handed me to Mother and step aside. Here is another round of greetings and well wishes. I mentally groan.

After a few rounds of this torture, there is a sudden shift in the atmosphere. It causes me to go alert at the upcoming threat. A tall, lean man with a long overcoat and a diamond-encrusted cane quietly approaches the podium where my family is sitting. He bows slightly.

"Hello, Lady Astrid. Lord Cassian." His tone is polite, but there is a sense of animosity toward my father. It was very quick that no one else noticed. I tilt my head, wondering if I imagined it.

"Lord Vernon," my mother replies warmly. Ah so this man is Uncle Vernon, the man that the servants were talking about. I can see why they would think he is cold. He brings in an unpleasant chill. I look at my parents and my brothers. They don't seem to mind Lord Vernon's presence.

He finally looks up and I couldn't help gasping in surprise. My mother puts me in an upright position and pats me gently on my back, probably thinking I needed to burp or had the hiccups. I try wriggling so I can keep a look out on Lord Vernon. His eyes were like looking at a deep abyss, like he had no soul.

No one seems to think something was strange but I can sense Lord Vernon staring a hole through my back. I have a feeling he noticed my odd behavior.

"This must be your newborn daughter," he comments.

My mother nods as I stare at him, not backing up an inch. "This is Freya." Lord Vernon glances me over once more before giving a small smile.

"I don't see your wife or children," my mother mentions after a few more pleasantries. Lord Vernon's expression did not change but I can see him clench his cane tightly. "They were not able to come since they are visiting Lamia's parents," he replies.

"Ah I see. Do send my regards to them."

Lord Vernon nods. After a few more pleasantries with my parents and a few words to my brothers, he finally leaves with his chilling aura.

"It seems like Lord Vernon is doing well," my father comments. My mother nods in agreement. I wonder why they don't seem as bothered. My older brothers also did not seem to sense anything wrong so maybe I'm overthinking it. I generally trust my instincts but I feel hesitant especially now as a newborn baby. Could I just be more sensitive? Am I overreacting because the servants called him cold? They never said anything about him being threatening.

The welcome party is finally over and I can finally relax. My brothers played with me for a while before Mother and Father took them away to let me sleep. I lay on my bed, thinking over the day's events especially with Lord Vernon. I don't have a good impression about Lord Vernon, but since he does not seem to be a threat, I will just watch silently. I just have a bad feeling that something bad will happen and it will involve him.